Today, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia presented the analysis of the current situation in the field of road safety, the Action Plan to be implemented by the end of 2019 and the social campaign “For More Life" in the “Rooms” Hotel. The event was opened by Mr. Giorgi Gakharia, the Minister of Internal Affairs and the presentation for the audience was made by Ms. Nino Javakhadze, the Deputy Minister.
The event was attended by Ms. Maia Tskitishvili, the Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, Mr. Kakhi Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi, also the representatives of the executive and legislative authorities as well as the NGOs and international organizations and business sector.
Analysis of the situation in the field of road safety and the projects were presented at the event. According to the analysis, 459 people died during 2018, while in the last 10 years 6,608 people died and 85 946 people were injured as a result of road accidents.
It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Internal Affairs launched a complete update of the National Video Monitoring System in 2018 to combat this challenge. 170 cameras were operating across the country by the end of 2017, now more than 2600 cameras operate throughout the country, reporting the facts of traffic violations. In addition, the Ministry has started the comprehensive modernization of the road accidents accounting system and implemented legislative initiatives, including the incrimination of driving a vehicle under the influence of drug. Also, all patrol police Inspectors have been equipped with the shoulder cameras, which fully track the drivers' and patrol police communication process.
The above-mentioned measures carried out by the Ministry of Internal Affairs are followed by particular positive outcomes: in 2018 the number of deaths in road accident was decreased by 11%. Also, the percentage rate of exceeding the speed-limit has decreased.
As it was mentioned at the presentation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs plans intensive activities in the future to ensure road safety. By the end of 2019 the Ministry shall operate 5 000 video cameras across Georgia, including 2 100 so called smart cameras, and speed measurement section device shall cover up to 700 km of motorway.
The number of crews in charge of concealed patrolling will be also increased by the end of the year; they will move in major cities of Georgia and impose appropriate sanctions on drivers violating the traffic rules.
It should also be emphasized that the Ministry of Internal Affairs intends to introduce an innovative, vehicle number plate recognizing mobile system, which shall allow patrol police crews to identify drivers of different categories of risk on place and verify them within the preventive police action.
In addition, in the framework of the 2019 Action Plan, legislative amendments will be implemented in the Code of Administrative Offenses to ensure road safety, in certain cases these amendments imply tightening of sanctions.
As Mr. Giorgi Gakharia, the Minister of Internal Affairs noted, the involvement of civil society and their awareness of road safety is especially important in the process.
The social campaign “For More Life”, which began several days ago, serves specifically the social awareness raising purposes. Within the framework of the campaign, temporary installations of crashed cars were placed in Tbilisi and regions, the banners have been displayed and the relevant videos done. Also, it has been created a website formore.life and the Facebook, where all the news planned within the scopes of the campaign shall be posted. The goal of the social campaign is to make each civilian to think once again about the tragic consequences of violation of traffic rules.
